When looking for a massage gel to use after exercise, after a demanding day or simply to provide a pleasant feeling of comfort in specific areas of the body, it is common to find ingredients such as arnica and devil’s claw.
Both are plant-based ingredients traditionally used in products designed for body massage. But what exactly are they? Why do they appear together in so many massage gels? And what does combining them with aloe vera and a cooling effect add to the formula?
In this article, we explain the main characteristics of arnica and devil’s claw, why they are used in body care products and what to consider when choosing a massage gel.
What is arnica?
Arnica (Arnica montana) is a plant native mainly to mountainous areas of Europe and has traditionally been used in products for external application.
Its flowers contain different plant compounds, and arnica extracts are now included in a wide range of cosmetic products, particularly gels, creams and oils designed for body massage.
For this reason, arnica is commonly found in formulas intended to be massaged into the skin after physical activity or applied to areas of the body that have been subjected to effort.
Why is arnica used in massage gels?
One of the main reasons is that it works well in products designed for targeted body massage.
Arnica gels are commonly used on areas such as:
- legs
- knees
- back
- shoulders
- arms
- neck
The gel texture also makes targeted application easy and allows for a comfortable massage, particularly after sport or other physically demanding activities.
Arnica has therefore become one of the best-known botanical ingredients in cosmetic products intended for body care and massage.
Arnica and devil’s claw: why are they combined?
Combining arnica and devil’s claw brings together two plant-based ingredients traditionally associated with body massage in a single formula.
Rather than creating a massage gel based on just one ingredient, different botanical extracts can be combined with other cosmetic ingredients to create a more complete formula.
This is where another particularly interesting ingredient comes in: aloe vera.
Aloe vera, arnica and devil’s claw: a combination for body massage
Aloe vera is best known in cosmetics for its hydrating, refreshing and soothing properties for the skin.
When added to a body gel together with arnica and devil’s claw, the formula is designed not only to make massage easier but also to care for the skin during application.
This combination can be particularly appealing in products used after exercise or whenever you are looking for a refreshing feeling of comfort and wellbeing.
At Aloe Vera Luxury, our Cooling Gel combines Canary Islands aloe vera, arnica and devil’s claw in a formula specifically developed for body massage.
What does the cooling effect add?
In addition to plant-based ingredients, some massage gels contain components that create a cooling sensation on the skin.
This cooling effect can feel particularly pleasant after intense physical activity or when the legs feel tired after spending many hours standing, walking or exercising.
The combination of the gel texture, massage and refreshing sensation makes these products popular in post-exercise body care and wellbeing routines.
A cooling gel with arnica and devil’s claw can therefore be especially pleasant after:
- running
- walking long distances
- cycling, gym workouts or hiking
- sports training
- long periods spent standing
- physically demanding activities
It can also simply be used as part of a body massage routine whenever you are looking for a refreshing sensation.
How to use an arnica and devil’s claw gel
Application is simple. Apply a small amount of gel to the desired area and massage it in using gentle circular movements until absorbed.
The massage itself can create a pleasant feeling of wellbeing, while the gel texture makes the product easy to spread over the skin.
For example, it can be applied after showering following exercise or at the end of the day to the legs, shoulders, back or other areas that have been subjected to physical effort.
Avoid applying the product to wounds, mucous membranes or irritated skin, and wash your hands after use, especially when using formulas with an intense cooling effect.
Cooling gel or conventional massage gel: which should you choose?
The best choice mainly depends on the sensation you are looking for.
A conventional body gel may be suitable simply for massage. However, if you want to combine massage with an intense cooling sensation, a cooling gel may feel particularly pleasant.
Not all massage gels are the same. Some focus mainly on the cooling effect, while others also contain botanical ingredients such as aloe vera, arnica and devil’s claw.
That is why it is worth looking not only at the immediate sensation a product provides but also at the ingredients included in its formula.
Aloe Vera Luxury Cooling Gel: more than just a cooling sensation
Our Aloe Vera Luxury Cooling Gel combines Canary Islands aloe vera with arnica and devil’s claw, together with ingredients that provide an intense refreshing sensation during massage.
This combination brings together three elements in one product:
Aloe vera, to provide hydration, freshness and skin care.
Arnica and devil’s claw, two botanical ingredients traditionally used in products designed for body massage.
Cooling effect, particularly pleasant after exercise, after a demanding day or whenever you want to refresh specific areas of the body through massage.
For this reason, it can be a useful addition to a post-exercise body care and wellbeing routine.
Who may find it useful?
A massage gel with arnica and devil’s claw may be particularly interesting for people who:
- exercise regularly
- take part in demanding physical activities
- spend many hours standing
- walk frequently
You do not need to be a professional athlete to use it. Many everyday activities can leave you appreciating a massage combined with a pleasant cooling sensation at the end of the day.
In addition to the ingredients in the formula, temperature sensation can also influence the massage experience. Discover the differences between cooling gel and warming gel and when to use each one.
Arnica, devil’s claw and aloe vera: three ingredients that complement each other
The appeal of massage gels does not depend only on creating a cooling effect or including one particular ingredient.
Arnica and devil’s claw are two plant-based ingredients widely used in products designed for body massage, while aloe vera offers cosmetic properties that are especially useful for skin care.
When these ingredients are combined with a refreshing effect, the result is a product designed for those moments when the body appreciates a massage after exercise, a long walk, a demanding day or simply at the end of the day.
At Aloe Vera Luxury, we have brought these ingredients together in our Cooling Gel with Aloe Vera, made with Canary Islands aloe vera, arnica and devil’s claw and developed to provide a pleasant, intense cooling sensation during massage.
Discover Aloe Vera Luxury Cooling Gel →
